Salary: $95,568.00 - $119,460.00 Annually
Location : Pierce County - Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: CW Field Operations - Region 5
Opening Date: 08/04/2026
Closing Date: 8/18/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DescriptionJob Title: After-hours and Placement Administrator (WMS2).
Location:Tacoma, WA - Region 5. Pierce and Kitsap Counties. This hybrid schedule allows for some teleworking options. Travel within the Region and State is required. Occasional National travel may be required.
Closes: 08/18/2026
Salary: $95,568 - $119,460 Annually.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is looking for an After-Hours and Placement Administrator (WMS2) who provides administrative leadership over Placement, After-Hours, Rate Assessors, and Multi-systems units within Region 5. DCYF's Field Operations Region 5 serves two counties in Western Washington - Kitsap and Pierce. This includes three federally recognized tribes, five field offices, and centralized and regional programs. This Administrator reports directly to the Regional Administrator and is a member of the Region 5 leadership team. This position provides primary and secondary supervision for 33 incumbents to ensure effective management and adherence to DCYF program mandates and delivery of services in Pierce and Kitsap Counties.
Click here to learn more about DCYF.
The Opportunity:The After-Hours and Placement Administrator provides leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for regional after-hours operations, ensuring timely, effective, and child-centered responses to emergencies, placement needs, and critical incidents occurring outside standard business hours. This position supervises the After-Hours Program, Placement Support Services, Rate Assessment functions, and Multi-System Coordination efforts to ensure continuity of services for children, youth, families, caregivers, and field staff. The administrator is responsible for promoting safety, placement stability, cross-system collaboration, operational excellence, and compliance with agency policies while supporting staff in making critical decisions during high-risk and time-sensitive situations. In this role, you will manage, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of timely after-hours requests, placement requests, and rate assessors. You will lead Supervisors, Social Services Specialists, and other Administrative staff in
accomplishing the Department's purpose, which is to keep children and adolescents safe, safely reducing the number of children in need of out-of-home care and strengthening and preserving family connections and their community ties so they can achieve safety, permanency, and well-being.
Some of what you will do:- Provide direct supervision and performance management to: After Hours Supervisors and Staff, Placement Team Staff, Rate Assessors, & Multi-System Program Manager.
- Support employee development through coaching, mentoring, and training.
- Provide administrative oversight of after-hours operations and emergency response services.
- Ensure consistent decision-making and policy compliance during evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Monitor workload distribution, staffing coverage, and resource allocation.
- Develop and implement operational procedures to improve service delivery and response times.
- Provide leadership and oversight of placement coordination efforts.
- Collaborate with regional leadership and field offices to address complex placement challenges.
- Support strategic planning for children and youth with complex behavioral, medical, or placement needs.
- Rate assessment and oversight: ensure timely and accurate completion of caregiver and placement-related rate assessments.
- Provide oversight to the Multi-System Program Manager in coordinating services across child welfare, behavioral health, developmental disabilities, education, juvenile rehabilitation, healthcare, and community providers.
- Support planning and intervention strategies for youth with complex needs requiring multi-system engagement.
- Analyze data and performance metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop and monitor program goals, performance measures, and quality assurance activities.
- Ensure compliance with agency policies, procedures, legal mandates, and best practices.
- Participate in regional and statewide planning efforts. Provide leadership and consultation during critical incidents and emergencies.
- Provide partnership and stakeholder engagement with regional offices, tribal partners, community providers, courts and legal partners, other state agencies.
- Represent the agency in meetings, workgroups, and collaborative initiatives.
Required Qualifications: - Seven (7) years of professional experience in management or supervision in Social Services, Mental Health, or Education.
OR- A Bachelor's degree in social work, health or social science, public administration, or a related field and five (5) years of professional experience in management or supervision experience in social services, mental health, or education.
OR- A Master's degree in social work, health or social science, public administration, or a related field and three (3) years of professional experience in management or supervision experience in social services, mental health, or education.
AND- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:Utilizes cultural competency to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with clients, subordinate staff, and other individuals across cultures, focusing on understanding and respecting the strengths of the clients, including their heritage, cultural beliefs and values, communication and learning styles.
• Builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with law enforcement, courts, providers/vendors, community stakeholders, and with internal/external statewide professionals.
• Evaluates, compiles, and organizes data into reports and policies.
• Directs and evaluates the work of others.
• Understands, conceptualizes, structures, and administers quality assurance programs.
• Applies principles of child protection to a variety of complex family situations to lead staff in making decisions that keep children safe.
• Proven leadership skills in public speaking, mediation, negotiation, and planning.
• Advanced supervisory and managerial skills.
• Advanced knowledge of the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the WA state Indian Child Welfare Act.
• Working understanding of state and federal law and agency policies and regulations concerning public child protective services, Indian child welfare services, risk assessment, safety planning, and permanency and well-being services as delivered in a public child welfare setting.
• Budget analysis, allotments, and fiscal accountability applications.
• Assessing and understanding complex casework options.
• Use of business applications and Child Welfare information computer systems.
How do I apply? Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- College Transcripts (if applicable). - Unofficial copy of transcripts is acceptable for applying.
Supplemental Information:The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington's children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.
2026-06285
More than Just a Paycheck!Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance BenefitsEmployees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement and Deferred CompensationState Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social SecurityAll state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
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